Have you ever wondered why the OCD diet is often touted as a weight loss aid and a slimmer appearance? This method is popular because it's considered practical, flexible, and easy to incorporate into your daily routine.
This article will discuss the OCD diet, a popular diet method today, including how it works, its benefits, and the risks you should understand before trying it. You can assess whether the OCD diet is suitable for your body type and lifestyle.
What Is the OCD Diet & Why Is It So Popular?
The OCD Diet is an abbreviation of the Obsessive Corbuzier's Diet, a diet method popularized by Deddy Corbuzier through e-books and social media since 2013. This diet is known as a form of intermittent fasting that emphasizes regulating eating windows rather than strictly limiting food types.
Many people are attracted to the OCD diet because the concept seems simple and flexible. You don't have to count calories daily in detail, but simply focus on managing meal times.
The duration of the eating window in the OCD diet can also be adjusted to suit your lifestyle and goals. From weight loss , improving metabolism, to developing more disciplined eating habits, everything can be personalized.
The OCD diet's main characteristic is a clear division between fasting and eating periods. Examples include an 8-hour eating window with a 16-hour fast, or a 24-hour fast with one meal per day.
This pattern allows the body to use fat reserves as an energy source during the fasting phase. Furthermore, this meal timing helps regulate hormones related to hunger and the body's metabolic processes.
Also read: What is Intermittent Fasting? The Viral Diet Plan That's Guaranteed to Fail
How the OCD Diet Works
1. Fasting Phase and Eating Phase
In the OCD diet, there are two main phases you need to understand: the fasting phase and the eating phase. During the fasting phase, the body receives no calories and begins using energy reserves, including body fat, shifting metabolism from glucose to long-term energy sources.
The eating phase is a specific window of time during which you're allowed to eat as usual, according to the OCD diet rules. Although time is limited, you still need to pay attention to nutritional quality and balance to keep your body energized and healthy.
2. Basic Rules in the OCD Diet
Although it sounds simple, the OCD diet has several basic rules that you must follow to be safe and effective:
- Choose a meal window that suits your body's capabilities, don't go to extremes straight away.
- During fasting you can only drink water, coffee or tea without sugar, without calories.
- There's no need to drastically change the type of food you eat, but pay attention to the quality and portion sizes to ensure your nutritional needs are met.
- Consistency and gradual adaptation are important so that the body does not experience stress or negative effects.
3. Example of a Daily OCD Diet Pattern
For example, you could start the OCD diet with an 8-hour eating window, for example, from 12 noon to 8 p.m., then fast for the remaining 16 hours. This pattern is considered the most beginner-friendly because it gives the body ample time to adapt.
Once your body gets used to it, you can shorten your eating window to 6 or 4 hours, depending on your physical readiness and daily activities. In certain circumstances, some people choose to fast for 24 hours once a week as a variation to practice discipline and control their eating habits.
Also read: Intermittent Fasting Diet Schedule for Effective Weight Loss
Benefits of the OCD Diet for Health
1. Helps Control Body Weight
One of the biggest reasons people try the OCD Diet is its ability to help manage weight . By regulating when you eat and fast, your body is forced to burn more fat for energy during the fasting phase, which in many cases can help create a calorie deficit without excessive hunger.
2. Increase Insulin Sensitivity
The fasting pattern adopted in OCD can help the body respond better to insulin. Increased insulin sensitivity means the body is more efficient at controlling blood sugar, potentially reducing the risk of metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes.
3. Helps with Diet Discipline
The OCD diet provides clear mealtime boundaries, which can help you reduce excessive snacking or emotional eating. It's not just about stopping eating, but about establishing a more conscious and regular eating pattern.
4. Supports an Active Lifestyle
When combined with regular exercise, the OCD diet can help maximize body fat burning. Energy from the appropriate eating window can be used during training, while the fasting phase can stimulate metabolic adaptations that support overall fitness.
Also read: A 7-Day Healthy Diet Schedule That's Easy for Beginners
Risks and Drawbacks of the OCD Diet
The OCD diet isn't without risks, as it's a method that restricts meal times for some people. If not adapted to your body's specific needs, you could experience a drastic drop in energy that could disrupt your daily activities.
In some cases, this diet can also trigger dizziness and eating disorders, especially if followed without gradual adaptation. This often occurs when the body is not yet ready to adjust to a significant change in meal times.
Another risk arises when the eating window is too short and food quality is not properly considered. As a result, the body can potentially lack essential nutrients that play a role in maintaining metabolism and immunity.
For those with certain medical conditions, it's important to remember that the OCD diet is a method that should be discussed with a healthcare professional first. Extreme fasting and overly restrictive eating schedules aren't suitable for everyone and can have negative consequences if undertaken without professional supervision.
Undergo a More Targeted OCD Diet with SVRG
The OCD diet is an intermittent fasting-based diet that can potentially help with weight loss, improve insulin sensitivity, and establish a more disciplined eating pattern. Results depend heavily on your eating window management, the quality of your nutritional intake, and your consistency in maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle.
If you'd like a more focused understanding of the OCD diet, SVRG's diet and health guide can be a helpful resource. The content covers managing your eating window, choosing healthy meals, and realistic diet strategies to avoid quitting.
Now's the time to take concrete steps towards a healthier life with SVRG. Visit SVRG and start combining the OCD diet with an active lifestyle for optimal and sustainable results.
